The Ultimate Guide to Travelling Solo

The Ultimate Guide to Travelling Solo

Travelling solo can become the experience of a lifetime. You can absorb yourself in cultures from all over the world, eat some of the greatest cuisines that you can find, and make friends that will last a lifetime. However, just as with most things in life, it does come with risks, but we’ve got a solution. Just follow our ultimate guide to travelling solo, and it’ll go without a hitch.

Plan, Plan, Plan

Just to clarify, make sure that you plan. This is an incredibly vital part of holidaying in general, and the importance is made even greater if you’re going alone. If you know exactly what you’re doing, at least with regards to travel and accommodation, then the anxiety levels for the trip will begin to drop. Even if you want to travel to certain places impulsively, it doesn’t hurt to research them before you go and search for potential hotels. Certain websites, including Travezi, constantly update their website with the best deals for locations all over the globe. This means that you can book your hotels well in advance and know that it’s all sorted, which is recommended, but also means that if you do choose to make a detour that it can be easily arranged. Along with booking your hotels, make sure that you have your train tickets sorted too – you don’t want to be stuck somewhere, unable to get to your next location.

Money Makes the World go Round

Money is, unfortunately, an incredibly vital component of travelling. No money inevitably leads to the end of travelling. If you want to take a certain amount of money with you, but you don’t want to have a lot of cash lying about, especially when you’re on your own, then why not get yourself a travel card. Travel cards, depending on which type you get and where you use them, can allow you to take money out of ATMs with potentially no added charge. Simply transfer money onto the card and then it works in a similar way to a debit card. You can only spend the money which is on it, which works well if you’re travelling on a budget, and you haven’t got the constant concern of travelling with a great deal of money on your person. It’s a cheap and cheerful solution to always having cash.

Pack What you Need

If you’re only going to one location when you’re holidaying solo, then feel free to take a large suitcase and put everything you need and want into it. However, if you’re travelling alone and wanting to visit a variety of places, it might be worth packing a little bit lighter. Check the luggage allowance on the airlines you’re using and pack accordingly. If you’re going to be walking a lot with a backpack on your shoulders, then definitely only pack what you need. A few changes of clothes, your passport, money (and potentially your travel card), toiletries and a printed out itinerary are the main things that you’ll need – if you pack much heavier then you could end up struggling. Make sure that there’s a laundrette in the vicinity and you’ll be fine and clean!

Make New Friends

Travelling alone sounds like an amazing concept, but it can get lonely. If you’re away from home for weeks or even months, and in a different time-zone from loved ones then you might understandably feel a bit out of it. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. There are so many ways to meet people when you’re travelling, ranging from sharing a room in a hostel to going on trips made especially for the lone traveller – it doesn’t have to feel like you’re on your own. Furthermore, you can even utilise the Internet and use applications on your phone to find fellow travellers. Meeting people is one of the greatest parts of travelling so why not use it to your full advantage and see what the world truly has to offer.

Foodies United

Other than the beautiful sights and friends you could make, there’s another amazing part that comes with travelling – food! You could take a group of your new friends with you or even eat alone. Either way, you’ll be in for a dishy treat. If you feel a little awkward about eating alone then why not choose a seat at the bar and get chatting to the bartenders, or sit outside with a book. You won’t be the only one eating alone. Wherever you are in the world, you’ll be guaranteed a taste of culture if you try some local cuisine. From trying a gyro in Greece to having authentic Chinese food – your taste buds will be in for a treat. Try something you might not think you’ll necessarily like – you might surprise yourself!

Stay Safe

Travelling alone will be an incredible experience, but it does come with risks. However, there’s a whole variety of simple ways you can cut down on these. The main way to be taken advantage of is by looking too much like you’re a tourist. To change this perception make sure you walk around with confidence. If you do have to ask for directions, you could even say that you’re meeting someone at that location – it might seem a little bit silly, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Keep in touch with family and friends at home and try to let them know where you’ll be each day – they’ll feel better for it, and it can come in handy. Make sure to stay in open and well-lit areas, especially at night. The main way to stay safe, however, is just by going with your gut instinct. If something is beginning to feel wrong, or unnatural, then just turn away and choose to do something else. It could be nothing, but it’s always best to trust yourself.